The Duchess of Malfi

wretch hath slain his father.
Come, I’ll bear thee hence,
And execute thy last will; that’s deliver
Thy body to the reverend dispose
Of some good women: that the cruel tyrant
Shall not deny me. Then I’ll post to Milan,
Where somewhat I will speedily enact
Worth my dejection. Exit with the body.

Act V

Scene I

Milan. A public place.

	Enter Antonio and Delio.
Antonio	What think you of my hope of reconcilement To the Arragonian brethren?
Delio	I misdoubt it; For though they have sent their letters of safe-conduct For your repair to Milan, they appear But nets to entrap you. The Marquis of Pescara, Under whom you hold certain land in cheat,107 Much ’gainst his noble nature hath been mov’d To seize those lands; and some of his dependants Are at this instant making it their suit To be invested in your revenues. I cannot think they mean well to your life That do deprive you of your means of life, Your living.
Antonio	You are still an heretic108 To any safety I can shape myself.
Delio	Here comes the marquis: I will make myself Petitioner for some part of your land, To know whither it is flying.
Antonio	I pray, do.
	Withdraws.
	Enter Pescara.
Delio	Sir, I have a suit to you.
Pescara	To me?
Delio	An easy one: There is the Citadel of Saint Bennet, With some demesnes, of late in the possession Of Antonio Bologna⁠—please you bestow them on me.
Pescara	You are my friend; but this is such a suit, Nor fit for me to give, nor you to take.
Delio	No, sir?
Pescara	I will give you ample reason for’t Soon in private:⁠—here’s the cardinal’s mistress.
	Enter Julia.
Julia	My lord, I am grown your poor petitioner, And should be an ill beggar, had I not A great man’s letter here, the cardinal’s, To court you in my favour.Gives a letter.
Pescara	He entreats for you The Citadel of Saint Bennet, that belong’d To the banish’d Bologna.
Julia	Yes.
Pescara	I could not have thought of a friend I could rather Pleasure with it: ’tis yours.
Julia	Sir, I thank you; And he shall know how doubly I am engag’d Both in your gift, and speediness of giving Which makes your grant the greater.
	Exit.
Antonio	How they fortify Themselves with my ruin!
Delio	Sir, I am Little bound to you.
Pescara	Why?
Delio	Because you deni’d this suit to me, and gave’t To such a creature.
Pescara	Do you know what it was? It was Antonio’s land; not forfeited By course of law, but ravish’d from his throat By the cardinal’s entreaty. It were not fit I should bestow so main a piece of wrong Upon my friend; ’tis a gratification Only due to a strumpet, for it is injustice. Shall I sprinkle the pure blood of innocents To make those followers I call my friends Look ruddier upon me? I am glad This land, ta’en from the owner by such wrong, Returns again unto so foul an use As salary for his lust. Learn, good Delio, To ask noble things of me, and you shall find I’ll be a noble giver.
Delio	You instruct me well.
Antonio	Why, here’s a man now would fright impudence From sauciest beggars.
Pescara	Prince Ferdinand’s come to Milan, Sick, as they give out, of an apoplexy; But some say ’tis a frenzy: I am going To visit him.
	Exit.
Antonio	’Tis a noble old fellow.
Delio	What course do you mean to take, Antonio?
Antonio	This night I mean to venture all my fortune, Which is no more than a poor ling’ring life, To the cardinal’s worst of malice. I have got Private access to his chamber; and intend To visit him about the mid of night, As once his brother did our noble duchess. It may be that the sudden apprehension Of danger⁠—for I’ll go in mine own shape⁠— When he shall see it fraight109 with love and duty, May draw the poison out of him, and work A friendly reconcilement. If it fail, Yet it shall rid me of this infamous calling; For better fall once than be ever falling.
Delio	I’ll second you in all danger; and howe’er, My life keeps rank with yours.
Antonio	You are still my lov’d and best friend.
	Exeunt.

Scene II

A gallery in the residence of the Cardinal and Ferdinand.

	Enter Pescara and Doctor.
Pescara	Now, doctor, may I visit your patient?
Doctor	If’t please your lordship; but he’s instantly To take the air here in the gallery By my direction.
Pescara	Pray thee, what’s his disease?
Doctor	A very pestilent disease, my lord, They call lycanthropia.
Pescara	What’s that? I need a dictionary to’t.
Doctor	I’ll tell you. In those that are possess’d with’t there o’erflows Such melancholy humour they imagine Themselves to be transformed into wolves; Steal forth to churchyards in the dead of night, And dig dead bodies up: as two nights since One met the duke ’bout midnight in a lane Behind Saint Mark’s church, with the leg of a man Upon his shoulder; and he howl’d fearfully; Said he was a wolf, only the difference Was, a wolf’s skin was hairy on the outside, His on the inside; bade them take their swords, Rip up his flesh, and try. Straight I was sent for, And, having minister’d to him, found his grace Very well recover’d.
Pescara	I am glad on’t.
Doctor	Yet not without some fear Of a relapse. If he grow to his fit again, I’ll go a nearer way to work with him Than ever Paracelsus dream’d of; if They’ll give me leave, I’ll buffet his madness out of him. Stand aside; he comes.
	Enter Ferdinand, Cardinal, Malatesti, and Bosala.
Ferdinand	Leave me.
Malatesti	Why doth your lordship love this solitariness?
Ferdinand	Eagles commonly fly alone: they are crows, daws, and starlings that flock together. Look, what’s that follows me?
Malatesti	Nothing, my lord.
Ferdinand	Yes.
Malatesti	’Tis your shadow.
Ferdinand	Stay it; let it not haunt me.
Malatesti	Impossible, if you move, and the sun shine.
Ferdinand	I will throttle it. Throws himself down on his shadow.
Malatesti	O, my lord, you are angry with nothing.
Ferdinand	You are a fool: how is’t possible I should catch my shadow, unless